Quantum Materials Corp. (fka QTMM)

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Ultrastretchable, Wearable Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Sedimented Liquid Metal Elastomer Composite

Chengfeng Pan Dongye Liu Michael J. Ford Carmel Majidi
First published: 09 September 2020 https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202000754Citations: 3
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Abstract

Progress in soft and stretchable electronics depends on energy sources that are mechanically compliant, elastically deformable, and renewable. Energy harvesting using triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) made from soft materials provides a promising approach to address this critical need. Here, an elastomeric composite is introduced with sedimented liquid metal (LM) droplets for TENG-based energy harvesting that relies on assembly of the LM to form phase-separated conductive and insulating regions. The sedimented LM elastomer TENG (SLM-TENG) exhibits ultrahigh stretchability (strain limit > 500% strain), skin-like compliance (modulus < 60 kPa), reliable device stability (>10 000 cycles), and appreciable electrical output performance (max peak power density = 1 mW cm-2). SLM-TENGs can be integrated with highly elastic stretchable fabrics, thereby enabling broad integration with wearable electronics. A stretchable and wearable SLM-TENG is demonstrated that harvests energy from human motion through a patch attached to the knee or integrated into exercise clothing. This body-mounted TENG device can generate enough electricity to fully power a wearable computing device (hygro-thermometer with digital display) after 2.2 min of running on a treadmill.